The Warriors, like seemingly the entire NBA for teams not from Oklahoma, will pursue Kevin Durant in free agency this offseason. Although it's likely a long shot for Durant to end up with Golden State, Harrison Barnes may be collateral damage should KD join the blue and gold.
However, a recent report from Sporting News' Sean Deveney seems to say otherwise. According to his source, the Warriors will pay whatever it takes to keep a winning team together. They also have the means to do so because Barnes is a restricted free agent, allowing Golden State to match any offer that Barnes receives from other teams. The source goes so far as to say that “the one possible scenario in which Barnes leaves” is if he specifically asks to be moved.
A lot of that probably has to do with Barnes' mindset as a player. He hasn't been concerned with the upcoming free agency period this season, instead focusing on the journey:
“For me, since the beginning of the season, I made the decision that I would focus on the game… Winning 73 games, coming back in that crazy playoff series (in the West finals) and being here in the Finals. That’s what it’s all about, and being able to put all that other stuff aside has allowed me to really enjoy this.”
Barnes also understand the bigger picture of what really matters – championships.
“This could be my last time getting (to the Finals), regardless if I stayed or left, so I just want to really enjoy this moment and give it all I have. You don’t know. You look at the Spurs, they have guys who could have left multiple times, guys who could have commanded a lot more money, and almost 20 years later, five championships later, here are those guys still there…
When you peel away the individual stats and the money that could be made, all that kind of pales in comparison to championships. That’s what it’s all about.”
The Warriors will look to close out their second consecutive NBA title in Game 5 on Monday.
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